CHL Colorado Eagles

Eagles win fourth straight in 5-0 victory over Tulsa

Published on December 17, 2004 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release


LOVELAND, CO – Ryan Tobler lit the lamp twice and Tyler Weiman shutout his CHL-leadiing fourth team tonight as the Colorado Eagles thumped the Tulsa Oilers 5-0. Weiman saved a season-high 38 shots in the victory and four different Eagles had multiple points. Tobler continued his scoring streak to six games, and Brad Williamson added two assists to keep his four-game scoring streak alive. The Eagles out shot and out played the Oilers all night as Tulsa has been held scoreless for more than 171 minutes.

Colorado jumped out to the lead only 1:04 into the first period on a goal by Kevin Marsh as he skated between the circles, took a feed from Sean Robertson and beat Bill Ruggiero top shelf. The Eagles wasted no time increasing their lead to two when Karlis Zirniz ripped a slap shot that fooled the Oilers goalie, and slipped past at the 5:03 mark. The goal was the first of the season for Zirnis, who has been putting up great assist numbers, but had yet to find the net before tonight. Colorado managed to stave off a surge from Tulsa late in the first period, as Chris Hartsburg and Greg Pankewicz both received minor penalties within thirty seconds of each other, giving the Oilers nearly a minute and a half of five-on-three hockey. The defense stood strong however, and gave up virtually no quality scoring opportunities. The period ended with a 2-0 advantage for the Eagles, with 15 shots to 11, also in favor of Colorado.

The second period proved to be less defensive than the first, as both teams opened up their game plan, resulting in many odd-man opportunities for both clubs. At one point during an Eagles power play, an errant pass was intercepted at the Eagles blue line giving Tulsa a clear-cut two on none break with only Weiman to beat. Fortunately for the Eagles, their rock solid D-man Matt Desrosiers never gave up on the play and took advantage of Tulsa's hesitation, diving in at the last possible moment to break up the pass. Despite the fast pace of play, only one goal was scored at the 16:27 mark when Ryan Tobler turned a Brad Williamson pass from behind the net into a 3-0 advantage for Colorado. The goal came on the man advantage, with a second assist going to Greg Pankewicz.

Tobler wasn't finished however, as the Eagles continued to pour it on heavy in the third period. At the 1:03 mark, the Colorado left winger put up a second power play goal, marking the second time in his Eagles career that he has scored two man-advantage goals in one game. In doing so, he also extended his point scoring streak to six games which is his best stretch of the season thus far. With the game slipping further away from Tulsa, tempers started to flare on both sides culminating in a fight between Fraser Filipic and Justin Ossachuk three minutes into the third period. Colorado was not content however, to sit on their lead and with continued pressure on Bill Ruggiero, Lee Ruff was able to steal a pass in the Tulsa zone, and slip it past the frustrated netminder to make the score 5-0. With chants of "Subway" reigning down from the fans, the Eagles continued to press but didn't score again which was alright with them, as they finished off a resilient Tulsa team with a very solid 5-0 victory.

Despite the closeness in shots (final tally Col-44 Tul-38) the Eagles controlled the game throughout, and goaltender Tyler Weiman was up to the task, stopping all 38 shots he faced en route to his CHL best fourth shutout. Performances like this one have become common place for Weiman whose stalwart play has put him atop the CHL in save percentage as well as goals-against average.

With the win tonight, Head Coach Christ Stewart secured his place as the representative for the Northern Conference in the 2005 CHL All Star Game in Laredo on January 12th. The Eagles are heading to Wichita tomorrow night and with a regulation win at the Kansas Coliseum, they will take over sole possession of first place in the Northwest Division for the first time this season.

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Central Hockey League Stories from December 17, 2004


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